Page images
PDF
EPUB

XLIV.

It has been said—indeed the proverb's old

That "Bad's the wind that blows not good to some one,”
And so we'd also say of frost and cold,

Although, perhaps, it does not well become one
(Howe'er may freely speak a gruff and grum one)
To question about providence below;

But, call me what you please, except hum-drum one,
The fact is this:-Some fifty years ago,

This Mulheim fell a ruin 'midst the snow;

XLV.

Good cometh But quickly rose, thanks to its sapient masters,
In fairer form; and, what's still better, abler

in various

ways.

To stand 'gainst storm, or any like disasters:
Few towns, I know, are better built, or stabler.
"T has been advanced by Tacitus, no fabler,

1

That here it was, where Casar 1 boldly threw,

A bridge across the Rhine.-Some modern cabler,

1 A full account of the making of this bridge may be found in Cæsar's

(And well enough it suits the purpose too) Has made a Pont Volant on which we flew.

A flying bridge.

XLVI.

The Romans wrote-and ages have believ'd,
That when the spirit of that mighty man,
Had sped, and many a noble heart had griev'd

When cold the blood, which late so fervent ran—
The Romans wrote-let those deny who can-
That then the senate shook, the meteor shone !

Ambitious call'd, by the republican.

But who more generous, brave, forgiving? None— "Twas he, in truth, who would have grac'd a throne.

XLVII.

Would'st thou be truly great, thou❜lt not succeed,

However wide thy power, uncheck'd thy sway

Commentaries (lib. iv. cap. xvii.-xviii.) It is an extraordinary fact, that, in ten days, he not only made the bridge, but passed his whole army over it." Diebus X. quibus materia cæpta erat comportari, omni opere effecto, exercitus transducitur."

Cæsar.

True great

ness.

An evil conscience.

Let whosoever laud thy warlike deed,

The boldest poet, in his loftiest lay—
If not magnanimous (that surest stay);
Unless forgiving, just, humane, and good.
Had the self-chosen emperor of a day,

Who, o'er his slaughter'd millions wont to brood,
Been such, his dynasty had ever stood!

XLVIII.

Kings are but men, with all their failings, feelings,
And failings oft they have-how should they not?
E'en Henry had his faults, but such his dealings,
The Gauls surnam'd him Bon-he's not forgot.
No! thanks to Sully, there's not lost one jot.—
A good king. And have not we, too, had a Royal line,

Who rul'd the empire without or blame or blot?
So shall our William reign, 'neath power divine.
Long life to him, whose people are his shrine !!

XLIX.

A modest re- Thou'st grown quite regal, Raymond, and would'st seem,

buke.

To take no heed of our gay, gallant Kaiser;

Which you would let, or stop, or sink, or swim.-
I'm no such fool, sweet Alice, but much wiser.
Know, then, that mighty Power, of all deviser,
Has just enveil❜d us in so dense a fog,

Our mess-man (rumour whispers he's a miser),
Cries, "Further we can't go; but there is Prog,"
So says the Captain-he's an honest dog.

L.

Or progg'd or fogg'd, it matters not; for here
We stick right fast, till the bright morning sun
Shall rise in strength, and make the river clear;
The while, all cramm❜d below-what glorious fun !
To sleep's impossible—I can't for one,
Nor shall e'er miss a soft down bed to sleep on.
My fear's the hours will far to quickly run,

With Arrabel's sweet Prussian face to peep on ;

Had I Time's sand-glass, they should slowly creep on.

A dilemma.

LI.

What heavenly voice! 'tis she-'tis she who sings,

And well it is; for here's a precious fool

A self-suffi- No other power could silence; for he brings,

cient puppy.

Red-hot from College-would it were from school-
An ample share of what is pitiful !—
This dandy (countryman, I would deplore)

Swears that by every right existing rule,

They should, ere this, have brought him safe to shore ;–
Such mothers' pets one meets with-they're a bore!

LII.

Advice to

fond mothers.

May I, fond mothers-dare I here lament—
That striplings, stor'd with little else than Greek,
And Latin, if you please, should e'er be sent,

From

dear
your apron strings, till taught to speak
A language that is complaisant and meek ?

Some prigs believe-so shame themselves and nation—
That being English, they may boast and break,
If not good faith, in faith what's call'd discretion,
To courtesy not offering one oblation.—

Courtesy.

LIII.

Oh! courtesy, thou best, thou sweetest balm,

To heal those wounds which arrogance would ope;

« PreviousContinue »